Like most things in 2020, MyArt had to cancel their upcoming productions. Due to rising cases of COVID-19, the future seemed uncertain for this youth theater program. Their annual production of the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast was put on indefinite hiatus. Nobody was sure if it would ever emerge. And yet, as the old saying goes… the show must go on! With a better understanding of the pandemic becoming available and vaccines more accessible, MyArt came back, revived with an adaptation that captures what they do best. Their annual January show was ready to go, and it was another example of their endearing effort to introduce a young audience to the performing arts.
In keeping with tradition, the event was held at the Robert L. Brigham Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. With families flocking over two weekends, the show was brought to life with heart and passion. The effort to make the show as great as possible could be seen with the many ensemble numbers gathered to sing Disney classics like "Gaston" and “Belle,” finding the vocals bouncing around the stage while others danced in colorful gowns. Characters fawned over the comically masculine antagonist Gaston with all the winking fun of the source material. If anything makes the work stand out, it’s the feeling that everyone – even the children scooting around as dogs or soaring thanks to high wire trickery as birds – wants to be there, having fun bringing this story to life.
While this is a smaller production, very little feels that way. In the opening prologue alone, there is a dazzling use of the stage. As people narrate from the sides, the audience learns The Beast’s backstory; whose fate of turning away an old beggar woman leads to his grizzly demise. In the first of many surprising moments, the beggar woman’s reveal to be a greater deity is done through impressive stagecraft, finding her cloak ascending to reveal the beauty underneath. Later on, there will be characters transforming while floating through the sky, the stage sets rotating and expanding. It’s everything that’s great about theater’s practical ways of entertaining the audience, finding clever ways to make the entire stage feel alive with purpose.
At the center of the show are a handful of affecting performances. Protagonist Belle is especially charming with her ability to capture the wide-eyed curiosity in ways that play up the oddity of the world. Whether it’s acting opposite the consistently grinning Gaston, talking to a sassy Dresser, or dealing with her bumbling inventor father Maurice, there is a charisma to every move. When she is called upon to sing numbers like the searing “Home,” she delivers with sincerity. The cast’s ability to balance the dark undertones with sillier slapstick moments is superb, allowing it to never feel too distressing.
Though being distressed is a bit too easy when facing off against The Beast. From behind a furry costume, there is an aggression to his performance that comes through not only in his towering stature but the way he throws his weight around as he walks or annunciates his hostile commands. His growls distort the microphone, creating a rude contrast to every other character.'s gentleness His slow de-escalation is admirable, finding a way to start with intimidation and find the bigger heart underneath. Here is a figure that is tortured and feels alone. It’s to the show’s credit that it expands upon the Oscar-winning film and find deeper humanity, giving the performance a much more complex achievement.
With the exception of small microphone issues, the show is an impressive example of community. The whole stage feels immersive, where dancers emerge from onstage, side doors, and even underneath the stage. In numbers like “Be Our Guest,” there’s even elaborate choreography with characters dressed as cutlery and plates. It has the dazzling elements necessary to pull it off.
As sad as it was that MyArt had to delay this production for two years, the results more than make up for it. There is enthusiasm and desire to perform, to have an expansive cast bring the classics to life. So long as health protocols continue to skew positive, one can hope that 2022 will have more opportunities to let young performers shine (Shrek the Musical is scheduled for a June premiere). For 32 years now, MyArt has been an invaluable gateway for children who want to get into theater. Thankfully the results speak for themselves, where a talented cast and crew create something special, allowing everyone to feel welcomed and entertained.
*Side Notes: One of the policies of MyArt has been to not list their talented cast by character. Instead, they are listed alphabetically in the program.
If you would like to learn more or want to become involved with MyArt, please follow the link here.
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